Updated | IVF bill makes it through second reading

The proposed amendments to Malta’s IVF laws have made it through the second reading with 36 votes in favour and 29 against. All government MPs voted in favour of the changes to the Embryo Protection Action, while all of the Opposition voted against.

Etienne Grech from the government’s side and Jason Azzopardi from the Opposition did not vote because they were both abroad.  Despite not being present for the vote, Azzopardi uploaded a lengthy Facebook message outlining why he did not support the Bill.

The controversial Bill's second reading was concluded earlier this month. 

In a statement issued after the vote the office of the deputy prime minister and health minister Chris Fearne said he would be meeting with a number of NGOs and other organisations that had expressed an opinion about the proposed amendments in order to discuss amendments that could be made to the law in the next stage of the legislative process.

Opposition leader Adrian Delia has pledged to grant Opposition MPs a free-vote, despite pledging to repeal the law if elected.

Reacting to the vote, the Labour Party said it was one in favour of families because it gave hope to one in six Maltese families that had fertility problems.

It said the government was sticking to its electoral pledge to change the law and update it according to the latest scientific developments, adding that the law was one based on equality.

“Now that the law has passed through the second reading, the Labour Party believes that the government should be open to objective suggestions at a committee stage, and should improve where necessary that which is being proposed,” the party said. 

Read more: An idiot’s guide to how Maltese IVF law will change

PN in favour of scientific advancements on IVF, but not embryo freezing

Addressing a press conference following the vote, Nationalist Party leader Adrian Delia said the PN remained committed to allowing infertile couples access to the latest scientific advances as long as they did not “endanger the unborn child in the womb”.

He said the Embryo Protection Act as originally implemented in 2012 allowed couples access to treatment while still protecting the embryo.

Delia again insisted that the Nationalist Party was in favour of life and “the embryo”, while accusing the government of ignoring discussions and consensus reached before the 2012 law was passed.

“The Opposition’s intention was, is, and remains to help people who are infertile,” he said, adding that it also intended to protect life from conception “till the very end”.

Problems of infertility already addressed without embryo freezing – PD

Similarly, the Democratic Party said it remained in favour of IVF but could not vote in favour of the proposed law because it made a mockery of life.

“For a person to benefit from all civil liberties it must first be allowed to live and not be placed in danger that will end its life,” the PD said.

The party added that without embryo freezing the issue of infertility was already addressed, while maintaining the highest respect for life.  

Earlier in the day, the pro-life group Life Network Foundation (LNF) issued a statement urging MPs to ‘reflect on the serious implications’ of the proposed amendments to the Embryo Protection Act.

Read more: When MPs heard a priest justify embryo freezing

In a statement, the LNF said MPs voting in favour of the amendments would have to shoulder a heavy responsibility, including “abandonment and loss of embryonic lives, and any detrimental effects on infants, children and other vulnerable members of society”,

“No justification based on lack of information, misinformation or ambiguous information would stand,” it said, adding that the way in which consultations were being carried out left “no room for experts to address the House".

It described the law as one centred around adults and one which side-lined children’s rights and best interests.

The NGO insisted there was ‘remarkable’ consensus by various bodies of professionals and individuals, that the bill should be opposed. It added that thousands of Maltese citizens were also concerned by the proposals.

“We have seen attempts at dehumanisation of the human embryo and children’s rights being side-lined,” read the statement.